Flexible conduit blanket system to facilitate installation of communication outlets

Abstract

A flexible conduit blanket and a method for installing a communication outlet in a wall comprising a flexible conduit blanket are disclosed. Generally, a first hole in an enclosure of a flexible conduit blanket abutting a wall is created. A flexible extension tube is installed such that it is in communication with the flexible conduit blanket, an activated detection cap is placed on an end of a communication medium, the end of the communication medium is placed into the enclosure of the flexible conduit blanket, and an external force is placed on the communication medium to thread the end of the communication medium through a wall of a structure. A handheld device is used to find a location of the detection cap behind the wall and a second hole is created in the enclosure of the flexible conduit blanket to pull the end of the communication medium out of the enclosure of the flexible conduit blanket. The end of the communication medium is connected to a communication outlet and the communication outlet is mounted to the wall.

1 . A flexible conduit blanket comprising a plurality of enclosures operative to receive a communication medium and to direct the communication medium along a portion of a wall of a structure in response to an external force.  
   
   
       2 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of enclosures directs the communication medium horizontally along the wall.  
   
   
       3 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of enclosures directs the communication medium vertically along the wall  
   
   
       4 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plurality of enclosures directs the communication medium from a first story of the structure to a second story of the structure.  
   
   
       5 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 1 , wherein a first set of the plurality of enclosures directs a communication medium horizontally along the wall and a second set of the plurality of enclosures directs a communication medium vertically along the wall.  
   
   
       6 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible conduit blanket comprises plastic.  
   
   
       7 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible conduit blanket comprises vinyl.  
   
   
       8 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible conduit blanket comprises Kevlar.  
   
   
       9 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of enclosures is semi-rigid.  
   
   
       10 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of enclosures prevent the flexible conduit blanket from collapsing.  
   
   
       11 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible conduit blanket is operable to receive a detection cap on an end of the communication medium, the detection cap comprising: 
 a first section operable to hold a first liquid element;    a second section operable to hold a second liquid element; and    a seal separating the first section and the second section;    wherein breaking the seal causes the first liquid element in the first section to mix with the second liquid element in the second section; and    wherein the mixture of the first and second liquid elements emits a signal.    
   
   
       12 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible conduit blanket is operable to receive a flexible extension tube, the flexible extension tube operative to communicate with at least one of the plurality of enclosures of the flexible conduit blanket.  
   
   
       13 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible conduit blanket abuts, but does not support the wall of the structure.  
   
   
       14 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible conduit blanket is operative to be placed between an outer wall of the structure and an inner wall of the structure.  
   
   
       15 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible conduit blanket is operative to placed in a siding of an outer wall of the structure.  
   
   
       16 . A method for installing a communication outlet in a wall comprising a flexible conduit blanket, comprising: 
 creating a first hole in an enclosure of a flexible conduit blanket abutting at least a portion of a wall;    placing at least a portion of at least one communication medium into the enclosure of the flexible conduit blanket;    placing an external force on the at least one communication medium;    creating a second hole in the enclosure of the flexible conduit blanket;    pulling an end of the at least one communication medium out of the enclosure of the flexible conduit blanket through the second hole;    connecting the end of the at least one communication medium to a communication outlet; and    mounting the communication outlet to the wall.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 drilling a first hole in a second wall prior to creating the first hole in the enclosure of the flexible conduit blanket; and    drilling a second hole in the wall prior to creating the second hole in the enclosure of the flexible conduit blanket.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 drilling a hole in the wall prior to creating the first hole in the enclosure of the flexible conduit blanket; and    drilling a hole in the wall prior to creating the second hole in the enclosure of the flexible conduit blanket.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein an air compressor creates the external force on the at least one communication medium.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a rod creates the external force on the at least one communication medium.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein one of the at least one communication medium is a fiber-optic cable.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein one of the at least one communication medium is a telephone wire.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein one of the at least one communication medium is a coax cable.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 activating a detection cap;    placing the detection cap on an end of the at least a portion of at least one communication medium prior to placing the at least a portion of at least one communication medium into the enclosure of the flexile conduit blanket; and    detecting a signal emitted by the detection cap.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein activating a detection cap comprises: 
 mixing a first liquid element with a second liquid element.    
   
   
       26 . A flexible conduit blanket comprising: 
 a first plurality of enclosures operative to direct a communication medium in a first direction along a wall of a structure in response to an external force; and    a second plurality of enclosures operative to direct a communication medium in a second direction along the wall of the structure in response to an external force;    wherein the flexible conduit blanket abuts the wall of the structure.    
   
   
       27 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of enclosures is operable to receive a detection cap on an end of the communication medium, the detection cap comprising: 
 a first section operable to hold a first liquid element;    a second section operable to hold a second liquid element; and    a seal separating the first section and the second section;    wherein breaking the seal causes the first liquid element in the first section to mix with the second liquid element in the second section; and    wherein the mixture of the first and second liquid elements emits a signal.    
   
   
       28 . The flexible conduit blanket of  claim 26 , wherein the flexible conduit blanket is operable to receive a flexible extension tube, the flexible extension tube operative to communicate with at least one the first and second plurality of enclosures.